What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bedford has the highest household income ($172k).

Stoneham has the most affordable homes ($672k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bedford	Stoneham
People
Population	14,727Lowest	23,355Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±1.6Highest 11% above MA	42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA
	Bedford and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±2.7 MA: 19.4%	20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Stoneham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	69.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%	4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Bedford and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$172,400±$23kHighest 66% above MA	$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$898,500±$43kHighest 60% above MA	$671,900±$26kLowest 20% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA	$2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$6,523Lowest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±9.5Highest MA: 51.8%	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Bedford and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.5%Highest MA: 10%	5.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	71%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 11% below MA	28 minHighest 4% below MA
Work from home	32.4%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%	24.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Bedford and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#7 of 282 in MA	#117 of 282 in MA
School district	Bedford	Stoneham
High school in town	Bedford High	Stoneham High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.